That Portentous Effigy, continued

Conclusion

The Brooks Museum woolly mammoth’s best days were long past when it reached its ignominious end in 1948. Teaching goals change and world’s fairs, movies, and world events change what was considered spectacular. There’s little doubt but that its time was up. But, when we contemplate the woolly mammoth in its original display context, it regains some of its youthful flair, inspiring us to keep the big and portentous questions of our own times ever-present in our teaching and research.

Endnotes

(1) An earlier version of this paper was presented to the “Arts in Action” symposium accompanying Tom Burckhardt’s interpretation of The Brooks Natural History Museum, c. 1900, University of Virginia Arts Board, September 14, 2011.

(2) Hantman, Jeffrey L., “Brooks Hall at the University of Virginia: Unraveling the Mystery,” The Magazine of Albemarle County History 47: 69, 1989.

(4) Southall, James C., “Address on Man’s Age in the World,” Opening of the Lewis Brooks Museum at the University of Virginia, June 27th, 1878. Clemmitt & Jones Printers, Richmond, Va. University of Virginia Special Collections.

(5) Southall, James C., “Address on Man’s Age in the World,” p. 12-13.